ANDALUCIA TOURISM NEWS – AUGUST 7 2002

LITTLE ROCIO
More than half a million people meet each year on the 18th of August in the hamlet of Almonte in Huelva province, to celebrate what is known as the Rocío Chico – the little Rocío. In this way the locals give thanks that this locality saw the presence of the Vigen del Rocío in 1813 to save them from the French troops. The origins of the fiesta date back to the war of independence, when the French ordered the young men from Almonte to join the French troops, something which angered the people in the village to act against the order. They prepared a demonstration which was responded to with an order to destroy the village. After a night in prayer the French troops withdrew, thanks, according to the locals, to the intervention of the virgin. Since then the 'Rocío Chico' is celebrate every August 18 in thanks to the Virgen del Rocío.

ATTENTION TO FOREIGN TOURISTS
Marbella council in Málaga province, has started a service in August for foreign tourists, with the idea being to help them obtain any type of information. The service, called 'Turismo Protección' can help with any type of dealings with other institutions. Ten local policemen offer help as part of the plan and can accept formal complaints, credit card and travellers cheque cancellations, contact consuls, inform and offer judicial advice, as well as a translation and interpretation service. The Marbella Tourist Office, located in the Plaza de Los Naranjos, next to the town hall, will be the base for this service which will attend tourists 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

TOURISTS AVERAGE SPENDING
The average spend from tourists in Andalucía increased in July by 1.5€ compared to the same month last year, with the Spanish being those who spend most on holiday. The survey, carried out by the Regional Tourism and Sports department using tourist statistics in Andalucía, shows that most of the spending, more than 55% goes on food and dining, while accommodation represents 23% of the budget. The Tourism department think the figure is a positive one given that the larger income for the sector can be reinvested in the improvement of the professionalism of the industry and its taking more upmarket. As far as where the tourists are from, 64% are Spanish, with 36% foreign travellers. Of those who come to Andalucía, around 35% come from other Spanish regions, while the largest section of foreigners 35%, are from the United Kingdom. The climate, the beaches and the nature parks are the main reasons why travellers decide to spend their holidays in Andalucía.

RURAL TOURISM IN ANDALUCÍA
Andalucía is currently, one of the most important regions for the development of rural tourism in Spain, according to a report from the Geoplaneta company, who are specialised in the creation and commercialisation of tourist attractions. The study saw an improvement in the best 2,800 rural houses in Spain and in the principal professional associations. The analysis by regions revealed that Andalucía is one of the Spanish autonomous areas with the highest proportion of complete house rentals, with 17% of all those available in Spain. In the same way travellers who choose this type of tourism in Andalucía, have their main activities based in trekking, excursions to nature parks, horse riding and bicycle routes. As the houses are classified for their main activity, the study showed that nearly 50% of them had their attraction based in the practice of sports, and farming, handcraft and forestry activities.

MUSIC IN THE JUDERÍA
The Jewish Quarter is one of the most popular and visited areas of Córdoba. A labyrinth of narrow streets, white houses and patios where we can currently enjoy musical and theatrical shows. Storytellers, classical music quartets, sopranos, guitar and even magic shows, in the beautiful setting of the streets and squares of La Judería. Places such as El Zoco, the Bullfighting Museum, La Posada del Potro or La Calleja de Las Flores become places for the enjoyment of music and the night in the monumental city, until August 24. As every year, hundreds of locals and visitors meet in the streets of the district to contemplate and listen to the cycle of performances which have been programmed by the city council, and at the same time enjoy the old historic city declared by UNESCO to be Heritage of Mankind.

FIESTASANTOS IN ARJONA
Inland Jaén province offers us many ways of enjoy its fiestas and traditions during the summer. One of them is the Fiestasantos, which are held between August 11 and 22 in the locality of Arjona, a small village in the northern countryside of Jáen province. Fiestasantos is the popular name given to the fiestas in honour of the patron saints Bonoso and Maximiano, and which date from the 17th century. On August 11 the chiming of the bells from the Santuario de los Santos, announces the start of the fiesta. La Luminaria, a procession of children carrying lanterns takes place on the 19th. It commemorates the day that the remains of the saints of the village were discovered, and is followed by the burning of Daciano, a guy who represents the governor who ordered the martyrdom of the saints. On the 21st, the procession of the statues of the saints and their relics takes place, and these are returned to their sanctuary on the following day as the ending of the fiestas – One of the most popular celebrations in Arjona, and enjoyed enthusiastically every August by both locals and the visitors who travel there to take part.

PUNTA UMBRÍA SPORTS MARINA
One of the most visited tourist attractions in the province of Huelva is the Punta Umbría which boasts long and beautiful beaches. Now, in addition you can also visit the new Sports Marina which will strengthen even more tourism in the estuary. The new facilities have a floating dock with the capacity for 198 berths and which can meet the demands from boats of between 6 and 12 metres length, and are located between the Las Canoas quay and the fishing port. The building has 300m2 and houses the administration offices and warehouse. This new Huelva Sports Marina, inaugurated by the Regional Councillor for Public Works and Transport, Concepción Gutiérrez, improves the offer to tourists in Punta Umbría and at the same time satisfies the needs of the sailing sector in the province.

GARCÍA LORCA DISCOGRAPY
One of the most illustrious and recognised Andalucian poets is, without doubt, Federico García Lorca. Now we have the opportunity to know a little more about his life and works in an exhibition at the Birthplace Museum in the village Fuentevaqueros, in Granada province. The display, under the title 'En el principio fueron pizarras' brings together musical pieces related to the poet from 1922, such as the re-edition of popular tunes from La Argentinita, accompanied by Lorca himself on piano, among many other audio and written examples. The record, titled 'Canciones Popular Antiguas', is one of the jewels of the exhibition, a complete window display of the musical documentation in existence on the poetry of Lorca. The display also shows how recorded sound has evolved from the slate disks from which the name of the exhibition has been taken, to the Cd's of today. There are records, among others, from Leonard Cohen, Carlos Cano and Enrique Morente, and pieces as curious as recordings of Blood Wedding by Szokolay Sandor.